Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-30
THE FIELD OF HVlOR.
The Famous Duelscf Public
Men and Statesmen.
y pEcLiNE IN THE CUSTOM.
INV the Code FlOurished Twenty
ave Years ,Agv-NOted Dueis
in the UAited StaSes.

American statesmen and puhli,
men. b1th North and South, have fre.
ouentlv resortcd to the "code" for a
Of grievances, and the list
of duelists contains the names Of the
most ehinent men in our history.
Hamilton, the foremost statesman OF
his time, was killed by Burr, who
was at the time Vice1President OF the
United States. The entire country
was plunged into mourning by the
event, but the facts are too familiar
for repetition. here.
In most of the American duels there
has been very little child's play or
make believe. When parties sought
the field they usually shot to kill, and
the great majority of American duels
have had fatal result. One
of the most celebrated was be-
tween jackson and Dickinson IN
1906. 1t was long before the
days OF Jackson's eminence, and
when he was brawling, caroasing,
horse-racing frontiersman, far from
dreaming of lame or OF becoming
President of the United States. The
Quarrel originated in a horse race, but
relentlessness was given to it by some
uper-servicefable friend reporting to
jackson some aspersions Dickinson
had made on his wife. This was the
deadly sin THAT Jackson never forgave
and challenge, passed and was ae-
cepted. jackson was at the time /"
his fortieth year, and his opponent
was some years younger. jackson
was good, but not . great, shot with
a pistol, bat .Dickinson's per1ormf nces
with the weapon were phenomenal.
He could cut string at Il distance oil
twenty-four PAGES. At the word OF
command he. could plant bullet after
bullet in a space no larger than a
silver dollar. He required no time
for aiming, but could shoot the instant
the word was given.
When il bccane noisedin the streets
of Nashville. where both lived, that
jackson and Dickinson were to fight a
duel, the former was given up as lost,
for he could moi possibly fire so quick
ly as the latter, whose aim WIS known
to be fatal. Many bets were made
that Jackson .wodld not return from
the field alive. The grovndappointed
for the duel was on the borders oi
Kentucky, d long days ride from
Nashville, and early one morning the
principals, accompanied by a few
chosen friends, set out for the place
Dickinson's party were in advance
galloping through the woods anC
over the mountains in grea
glee, and making the welkir
ring with merriment. kvery now an6
then Dickinson would indulge il
pistol practice. and at one house
where they stopped for refreshments
he performed his favorite feat of cut
ting string with single pistol ball
"Show General jackson that when h
comes along" said he TO the owner o
the house. jackson had been il
many encounters, but he knew thi
was to be the most serious of his life
and as he and his second, Majo
Overton, rode along somewhat apar
from their friends, they discussed a
the contingencies of the coming figh
and how to meet them.
They at last determined that
would be- better not to try to fire q
quickly as Dickinson, but rather t
receive his fire and then, if not mort
ally hit, to deliver hiss fire. I
try to compete with such q rapid she
as Dickinson would only result in dc
ranging Jackson s aim, and could pos
sibly have no good result. Jackso
expected to be hit, and hit severely
but be depended on his iron nerve t
bring him safely through the ordeal
At nightfall both parties reache
the spot, aud put UP fer the nigh
at farrn-houses near by. The mex
morning they were on the ground
Dickinson s.sccond won the choice O
positions, while Overton obtained tn
right OF giving the word. The due
was to be at eight paces--twenty-fol
feet--whieh, being duly measured of
was marked by pegs, at which eacf
principal was placed. The second
stood at right angles with their Owl
pistols drawn to prevent any violatiol
Of the rules for such occasions. Il
more than one instance a duelist ha
been known to fire in that coun
try before. the word was Civ
en-. and thus disable or kill hi
adversary before he had chance t.
fire. 1t was, agreed here that if eithe
of the principals should be guilty q
such thing as that, the second
should at once shoot him down. The
Overton asked: "Are YOU ready p
Both replied in the affirmative, an
then quickly came the word "Fire +
Quick as a flash of lightning Dickin
sons pistol went of, and a puff OF dus
was seen to fly from the breas
of Jackson's coat. jackson the
drew has LETT arm tightly acros
his chest aud raised his pistol
Dickinson, amazed at the unwonte
failure of his aim, recoiled step O
two and cried out: "Good God, hav
L missed him" Back to the mark
sir" said 0verton, and Dickinson
with averted eyes, resumed his place
jackson took deliberate aim an
pulled the trigger. The pistol did nc
90 off. He examined it and found
had stopped at half-cock. He dreN
back the hammer and took aim sec
p <)HQ ClHe, dIlu t1feu. DiChIiiSou ioii
shot through the body belo!
the ribs. Overton stepped forward
ascertained his condition, and con
Quoted his principal off the groun
They had not proceeded far before til
surgeon perceived that one of Jack
sons shoes was full of blood. " Ar
YOU hit?" he exclaimed. "Oh,
lol;ave he has piuked me a little, bu
don't say anything about It'll" Dick
inson's aim had been perfect, but tn
sIenderness OF Jackson's figure dresse
in q loose frock coat had deceived him
The BAH raked the breast bone an
inflicted wound that troubled Jack
son to his dying day. Dickinson die
that night.
Henry Clay fought two duels an
was the challenger in both. The frs
was with Humphrey Marshall, Will
both were members OF the Legislator
II Kentucky. They were of opposit